Race recaps and replays from Cup Day at Addington

New Zealands biggest harness racing day has been run at Addington Raceway in Christchurch.

13 races, three Group 1s, and over $1 million in stakes

Catch all the post race reviews and race replays below:

Race 13 THE BOX SEAT ‘ON EVERY WEDNESDAY’ MOBILE PACE $25,000, 3YO & OLDER R56 TO R62, R63 WITH COND.,
1980m

The day ends with the heavily backed favourite Here’s Herbie leading all the way in the hands of Jim Curtin for trainers Colin and Julia DeFilippi.

Here’s Herbie beat home Artatac (Second) with No Terror running into third.

HER’S HERBIE REPLAY

Race 12 FIRST DIRECT TAXIS TROT $25,000, 3YO & OLDER R45 TO R50, 2600

Another big upset as Boss Kenny (Majestic Son) wins Race 12 at odds of 24-1 in the hands of John Morrison

BOSS KENNY REPLAY

Race 11 IRT NEW ZEALAND TROTTING CUP (STAND PACE) $600,000, 3YO & OLDER FFA, 3200m

History repeats as Copy That (American Ideal) goes back to back in the New Zealand Trotting Cup.

The Ray Green trained Copy That has doubled up in the big race courtesy of a great front running drive by Blair Orange.

Once the race favourite Copy That made a good beginning, Orange had designs on the front and when he got there he rated the horse to perfection holding out a brave Majestic Cruiser who was massive coming after coming wide from the 700m.

Spankem battled on well for third and Akuta not far away either.

“We got the start really well and found the front but had to do a bit (of work) to get there, then we controlled it for a good period before we had some speed outside us,” driver Blair Orange said after the race.

“It just shows what a good horse he is,” Orange said.

COPY THAT REPLAY

Race 10 AVON CITY FORD MOBILE PACE $25,000, 3YO & OLDER R63 TO R70, R71 WITH COND., 1980m

A massive upset in the 10th race of the day.

50-1 Outsider Heisenberg (Art Major) wins for the Robert and Jenna Dunn stable with driver Tim Williams in the sulky.

The race was run at a torrid pace and Heisenberg had a good spot handy on the outer. In the straight he picked up the leaders and went on to win impressively.

Stablemate Magic Four ran home well for second and race leader No Time Like Now held on for third. Favourite Franco Indie had a horrid run parked out on the hot pace but battled on well for fourth.

HEISENBERG REPLAY

Race 9 WOODLANDS STUD SIRES’ STAKES SERIES FINAL (MOBILE PACE) $170,000, 2YO COLTS & GELDINGS, 1980m

Another Group One for the powerful Purdon/Cullen stable with red hot favourite Don’t Stop Dreaming (Bettor’s Delight) finishing fast up the passing lane and winning for driver Mark Purdon.

It was an exciting race with unbeaten pacer Merlin pouring on the pace to get to the front with a lap to go. In the straight Don’t Stop Dreaming zipped up the passing lane and withstood the challenge of stablemate Sherlock, who flashed home wide to nab second. Alta Meteor battled on for third and Merlin faded to fourth.

“I was keen to stay in front but when Zachary came up (with Merlin), you could see he was over racing so I thought if we go head to head we are not going to have much left,” Mark Purdon said after the race.

“I thought that (handing up) was the best option and that turned out the winning one,” Purdon said.

DON’T STOP DREAMING REPLAY

Race 8 HORNBY LIQUOR CENTRE (WORTHY QUEEN) HANDICAP TROT $35,000, SPECIAL, 2000m

Majestic Man (Majestic Son) back in winning form for trainer Phil Williamson after taking out Race 8 at Addington Raceway today.

Driver Brad Williamson was content to sit back in the field during the race but unleashed a powerful burst down the outer in the straight to sweep to victory.

“He was far enough back in the run but he let down with such a good sprint the last 400m he was good enough to get over the top of them,” Brad Williamson said after the race.

“In his older age he is definitely better with a sit and he likes the shorter trip,” Williamson said.

Majestic Man beat a game Oscar Bonavena, with Aardiebythehill running into third. The favourite Bolt For Brilliance made a sharp move at the 800m but faded in the run home.

MAJESTIC MAN REPLAY

Race 7 NEVELE R FILLIES SERIES FINAL (MOBILE PACE) $140,000, 3YO FILLIES, 1980m

Australian owner Jean Feiss has won another Nevele R Fillies final after True Fantasy (Bettor’s Delight) ran away with the Group One feature at Addington Raceway today.

True Fantasy was taken straight to the lead by driver  Natalie Rasmussen and dominated the event winning easily by a widening margin.

“She has been racing below par but she had half blinds on today and she was much sharper, “Rasmussen said after the race.

“She just felt like her old self,” she said.

True Fantasy beat a closing Miki Montana with Obsession running home late for third.

TRUE FANTASY REPLAY

Race 6 HARRISON BLOY MOBILE PACE $25,000, 2YO & OLDER R52 TO R55, R56 WITH COND., 1980m

Driver Mark Hurrell grabs his first win on Cup Day when he flashed home wide on Southland pacing filly Snow Robyn (Rock N Roll Heaven) to grab a narrow win at long odds.

“I am stoked, over the moon,” Hurrell said after the race.

“I didn’t want to do too much work, I wanted to come with one run at them and we got a good cart into it, and she really showed how tough she is up the straight,” he said.

Snow Robyn is trained by Southern trainer Craig Ferguson and paid $20.50 and $5.60. Vinke B ran second and Jimmy James Maguire ran third.

SNOW ROBYN REPLAY

Race 5 ALABAR (JUNIOR FREE-FOR-ALL) MOBILE PACE $35,000, 3YO & OLDER FFA, 2600m (Gr3)

Republican Party (Bettor’s Delight) runs a big race to take out this years Alabar Junior Free For All. After working very hard to take the lead, driver Blair Orange did not get much respite as the White trained Cranbourne was soon up outside him and racing him for the last 1000m.

Republican Party showed grit to fight best in the straight and won by a narrow margin.

“He can do it at both ends this horse,” Orange said after the race.

Republican Party is trained by Cran & Chrissy Dalgety at West Melton.

REPUBLICAN PARTY REPLAY

Race 4 GARRARDS HORSE & HOUND MOBILE PACE $25,000, 2YO & OLDER R47 TO R51, R52 WITH COND., 1980m

Greg and Nina Hope get an easy win in the 4th race after Celtic Spirit (Sweet Lou) with driver Ben Hope crushes the opposition with an all the way win.

Favourite for the race Millwood Indie fought on for second and Moonlight Spirit ran home well for third.

CELTIC SPIRIT REPLAY

Race 3 MITRE 10 HANDICAP TROT $25,000, R51 TO R65 DISCRETIONARY, 3200m

A close finish to the 3200m Trot, but Fred Fletcher pulls off a great training performance to take out the race with his four-year-old fresh up trotter Royal Pride (Royal Aspirations).

Driver Blair Orange grabbed a late split to pierce through and win by a narrow margin right on the line. Streaming Live ran second and Zsa Zoe ran third setting up a $2768.70 Trifecta.

“I had to go back and pray for a gap, but luckily we were able to push Ricky (Streaming Live) out of the way and get through,” Blair Orange said after the race.

ROYAL PRIDE REPLAY

Race 2 HYDROFLOW CUP DAY MAIDEN MOBILE PACE $20,000, NON-WINNERS 2YO & OLDER MR46 TO MR50, (1980m)

Drama in the second race with the Purdon/Cullen stable winning the race with Sinbad but then losing it in the inquiry room to the Craig and Aimee Edmonds trained Mr Smartee (Always B Miki), after running in on that runner down the straight.

The time for Mr Smartee is a new New Zealand record with a mile rate of 1-53.1 over the 1980m

MR SMARTEE REPLAY

Race 1 SAUNDERS ROBINSON BROWN HANDICAP TROT $25,000, 3YO & OLDER R60 & FASTER DISCRETIONARY, (2600m)

Harness racing trainer Ben Waldron strikes first at Addington in Race 1 with a big upset, after Franco Josiah (Revenue) beats a handy field of trotters in the hands of driver John Morrison.

The victory by Franco Josiah gave Morrison his first win on Cup Day.

“We were lucky we got the front and never got attacked,” Morrison said after the race.

“This horses best asset is his speed,” he said.

Franco Josiah paid $40.20 and $7.50 beating Harold Smith and Peregrine.

FRANCO JOSIAH REPLAY

For complete race results, click here.

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Early win movers for the day.

Race 1

Masterly $7.50 into $4.20
Love N The Port $6.00 into $4.80
I Dream Of Jeannie $7.50 into $6.50

Race 2

Ohoka Le Bron $10.00 into $4.80
Sinbad $3.50 into $2.80

Race 3

Streaming Live $15.00 into $8.00
Resolve $7.50 into $6.00
Missalyssa $9.00 into $7.00
Royal Pride $21.00 into $9.00

Race 4

Millwood Indie $5.50 into $4.50
Come Together $15.00 into $10.00

Race 5

Republican Party $2.50 into $2.10

Race 7

Queen Of Diamonds $6.00 into $4.00

Race 8

Mataderous $5.50 into $4.00

Race 9 

Don’t Stop Dreaming $1.75 into $1.60
Merlin $7.00 into $5.00

Race 10

Franco Indie $4.20 into $3.60

Race 11

Alta Wiseguy $31 into $21.00
Rock N Roll Doo $6.00 into $5.00

Race 12

El Conqueror $5.00 into $3.80

Race 13

Here’s Herbie $5.00 into $3.50

 

by Harnesslink Media